Railway crosstie



March 24, 1931. w -n5 1,797,631

RAILWAY CROSSTIE Filed July- 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l W. H. BETTIS March 24, 1931.

RAILWAY CROSSTIE Filed July 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WH.B6'lti/6, W

March 24, 1931. w HLBETT|$ 1,797,631

RAILWAY CROSSTIE Filed July 1'7, 1930 I 5 Sheets-Sheet I:

F; (g. 9. Eig 10 pended claims.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 WILLIAM H. IBE'IVTIS, or RoAnoxE, v ne ma RAILWAY CROSSTIE Application filed July 17, 1930. Serial No. 468,713.

This invention relates to metallic railway cross ties, and has in View to provide a practical metallic cross tie utilizing scrap railroad as its basic structure.

Special objects of the invention are: to provide means whereby a practical cross tie possessing long life and which is entirely satisfactory in service may be constructed economically and with facility from scrap rail; to provide a cross tie, utilizing scrap rail as its basic structure, which embodies the desirable feature of inherent flexibility and which is adapted for use with different rail sections; to provide a cross tie of the character mentioned which is so designed that a railroad may use its own standard track bolts; and, to provide practical, efficient means for insulating the track rail from the tie in any instance where the track rail is utilized to conduct electric current.

WVith the foregoing and various other objects in View, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the ap- In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views a Figure 1 1s a top plan View of a metallic cross tie constructed in accordance with a practical embodiment of the. invention, the

track rails being shown mounted onthe tie.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of thetie with the track rails mounted thereon.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating how a track rail of different section from the track rail shown in Fig. 4 may be mounted on the tie.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the spacing blocks for the tie rail sections.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the track rail clamps.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the other of the track rail clamps.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a practical means of insulating the track rail from the cross tie.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 101O ofFig.-'9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the insulating member illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9; and r Figure 12 is a perspective View of the retaining element or clamp for the insulating member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will I be observedthat the basic structure of the present cross tie comprises a. pair of rail sections 10, 10 which are disposed in side to side, parallel spaced relation and which have the approximate length of a standard cross tie.

The track rails R, R, rest upon the tie rails 10, 10, and under eachtrack rail R, between the tie rails 10, 10 is arranged a tie rail spac ing block 11.

Each block 11 is formed at its sides to seat in the fishing spaces at the inner sides of the tie rails 10, 10, respectively, and is clamped between said tie rails by a bolt or bolts 12 passing through the block and the webs of the tie rails, whereby the latter are secured together in the relation stated.

The blocks 11 are of greater length than the width of the bases'of the tracks rails R, R and each block has formed in each end thereof a central, vertical slot 13 for the reception of a track bolt 14. The upper part 13 ofeach slot 13 is of a width to receive the shank of a track bolt, butis' of less width than the head of the bolt, while the lower part 13 of each slot is of a width to accommodate the bolt head. Thus, a shoulder 15 is formed at each side of each slot 13 to be engaged by the head ofthe related bolt 14 to limit upward movement of the' latter.

Rotation of the bolts 1% relative to the blocks 11 is prevented by reason of the upper parts 18 of the slots 13 being of less width than the longer dimension of the usual oval neck portions 14 of the bolts, which portions are received in said upper slot parts 13*, and,

as shown, the upper, threaded ends of the bolts 14 extend a suitable distance above the flanges of the track rails.

Medially, the upper face of each block 11 is spaced downward a suitable distance below the base of the track rail, but at each end of each block is formed an upwardly directed shoulder 16 to provide a. positive anchorage for the track rail at each side thereof.

A pair of track rail clamps l7 and 18 is provided for each spacer block 11.. These clamps are of a. length to span the tie rails 10, 10 and each is inclusive along its inner edge of a lip portion 19 to overlie the flange of thetrack rail. Moreover, each clamp 17 and 18 is provided with an opening through which the ,related'track bolt 14 extends, so that by means of nuts 21 threaded on the upper ends of said track bolts, the said clamps 17 V and 18may be drawn clownward against the track rail flanges to secure the track rails to the cross tie.

One of the track rail clamps, the clamp 17 in this instance, is recessed in its under face from its inner edge to a point suitably spaced from its outer edge, as indicated at 22. while the other of said clamps is of a similar design except that the same is provided in the recess 22 thereof with a longitudinally extending, depending rib 23 located between the lip portion 19 and the bolt hole 20 thereof. Thus, as will be apparent from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 5, track rails of different section are adapted to be secured to the cross tie by a single pair of the clamps 17, 18, simply by interchanging said clamps. For example, assuming that the track rail shown in Fig. 1 is of 130 lb. weight, the clamp 18 is placed with its outer edge against the shoulder 16 at one end of the spacing block 11 and with its rib ..3 abutting the adjacent edge of the track rail flange. This definitely locates'the trackrail with respect to the spacing block and the cross tie, and the rail is securedto the tie by the two clamps 17 and'18 in the manner heretofore stated, the clamp 17 simply being engaged over the shoulder 16 at the other end of the spacing block. which is permitted by the recess 22 in the under face of said clamp as is manifest.

0n the other hand, assuming that it is desired to secure a track rail of less flange width than the rail shown in Fig. 4 to the cross tie,a rail of 100 lb. weight for eXample-the clamps 17 and 18 are simply interchanged. That is to say, the clamp 17 is placed with its outer edge against theshoulder 16 engaged in the case of Fig. 4 by the clamp 18, and the latter clamp is engaged over the other shoulder 16 with its rib 23 interposed between the shoulder 16 and the adjacent edge of the rail flange. Thus, again the track rail is definitely positioned relative to the spacing block and the cross tie despite the lesser flange width of the second mentioned track rail as compared with the flange width of the first mentioned track rail, the gage being the same, or practically the same, in each instance.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 9 to 12 of the drawings wherein a practical structure for insulating the track rails from the cross tie is disclosed, 24 designates generally a cuff piece or sheet of insulation of a len th to span the tie rails 10, 10 and which is shaped to extend beneath the base of the track rail, upward along the edges of the flange of the track rail, and inward a suitable distance over the top of the track rail flange at each side thereof. Thus. by reason of the bottom portion 25 of this/sheet ofinsulation being disposed between the tie rails 10, 10 and the track rail R, and by reason of the side portions 26 of said sheet of insulation being disposed between the clamps 17-18 and the track rail, it follows that the track rail is insulated from the cross tie, and in this connection it is apparent, of course, that the insulating cufli' piece or sheet 24 may be'used without other elements to insulate the track rail from the cross tie. Preferably, however, a metallic clamp or guard, designated generally as 27, is' used in conjunction with the insulating member 24 as a means of protecting said member against abrasiou,-and to-this end, said clamp or guard preferably isof a form as illustrated in Fig. 12 ofthe drawings. That is to say, .said. guard is inclusive of a bottom portion or plate 28"to span the tie rails 10, 10 and to underlie the bottom portion 25' of the insulating member 24, and side flanges 29 which extend upwardly and in- .wardly so as toembrace the upwardly and inwardly extending side portions 26 ofsaid insulating member. In addition, one or more ribs or flanges 30 is or are formed on the bottom of said guard to extend. downward between the tiev rails 10 to prevent endwise movement of the guard, and the ends of the bottom 28 are, for a similar purpose, preferably directed downward as indicated at 31 to overlie the outer faces of the tie rails 10, 10, Thus, the guard 27 is subjected to practically au or the abrasive action to which the insulating member 24 would be subjected in the absenceof 1 said guard and longevity of the insulat on is thereby assured. V 3 The base or bott-om plate 28 0f the guard 27 obviously may be of uniform thickness for use in instances where thetrack rails are not canted, or, in the event iti's desired to cant the track rails, the bottom plate of the'guard obviously-may be tapered transversely in accordance with-standard cantedtie plate practice. I i

Without further descriptionfit isv thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent] to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the formf proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, spacing blocks between said rails seating in the fishing spaces of the latter, bolts clamping said rail sections against said spacing blocks, track rail clamps, and bolts extending through said spacing blocks and said track clamps for drawing the latter into clamping engagement with the track rails.

2. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, spacing blocks between said rails seating in the fishing spaces of the latter, the ends of said spacing blocks being slotted, track rail clamps, and track bolts engaged in the slots of said spacing blocks and extending through said clamps.

3. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, a spacing block between said rail sections, means clamping said rail sections against said block, upwardly directed shoulders at the ends of said spacing block, a pair of rail clamps one of which is disposed between one of said shoulders and the adjacent edge of the track rail flange, and bolts connecting said clamps with said spacing block.

4. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, a spacing block between said rail sections, upwardly directed shoulders at the ends of said spacing block, means clamping said rail sections against said block, a pair of track rail clamps, and track bolts connecting said clamps with said spacing block, each of said clamps being recessed in its under face for engagement over one of said shoulders, and a rib extending into the recess of one of said clamps for engagement with the edge of the track rail flange.

5. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, a spacing block between said rail sections, means clamping said rail sections against said block, an insulating member to span said rail sections and to underlie the track rail, said insulating member having side formations to extend upward at the edges of the track rail flange and to overlie said flange, aguard for said insulating member.

disposed between the latter and the tie rail sections and including side formations embracing the side formations of the insulating member, track clamps, track bolts extending through said spacing block and said track clamps for drawing the latter into clamping relation with the track rail, and means to hold said guard against creeping from its operative position.

6. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, a spacing block between said rail sections, means clamping said rail sections against said block,-an insulating member to span said rail sections and to underlie the track rail, said insulating member having side formations to extend upward at the edges of the track rail flange and to overlie said flange, a guard for said insulating member disposed between the latter and the'tie rail sections and including side formations embracing the side formations of the insulating member, track clamps, track bolts extending through said spacing block and said track clamps for drawing the latter into clamping relation with the track rail, and downwardly directed formations on said guard cooperating with the tie rail sections to hold the guard against creeping from its operative position.

7. A railway cross tie comprising a pair of rail sections disposed in side to side relation, a spacing block between said rail sections, means clamping said rail sections against said block, an insulating member to span said rail sections and to underlie the track rail, said insulating member having side formations to extend upward at the edges of the track rail flange and to overlie said flange, a guard for said insulating member disposed between the latter and thetie rail sections and includingside formations embracing the side formations of the insulating member, track clamps, track bolts extendingthrough said spacing block and said track clamps for drawing the latter into clamping relation with the track rail, downwardly directed flanges at the ends of said guard for engagement with the outer sides of the tie rail sections, and a flange extending downward from said guard between said tie rail sections for cooperation with said end flanges to hold the guard against creeping from its operative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. BETTIS. 

